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New
Website Developments
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This page summarizes recent
changes and additions to all components of the UConn Plant Database.
This website is being updated and improved on a continual basis, but
often these changes are not readily apparent. Visit this page often
to read about what's new!
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Date
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New Developments
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Summer-Fall 2003
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We have received many comments suggesting
the addition of herbaceous perennials to the UConn Plant Database, which
at this time only covers woody plants. Such an undertaking will take
much time and effort, but nevertheless initial planning is underway
to expand the website's coverage.
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Spring-Summer 2002
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The UConn Plant Database website has
recently received both local and national recognition. The University
of Connecticut awarded the website a Chancellor's Information Technology
award, while the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) gave
our resource a 2002 Distinguished Achievement Award for Extension Materials.
The insightful comments of our users have helped us achieve this level
of excellence.
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November 2001
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We have collected wonderful feedback
over the last few months and will be implementing many of your suggestions
soon. In the meantime, we have modified some of the Plant Selector search
criteria to be more easily understandable. For traits such as "Sun
Exposure", the listing of numerical definitions will save visits
to the help page. We are also contemplating the addition of a "Proposed
Landscape Use" category that will allow users to select plants
for hedges, borders, specimen trees, etc.
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Sept. - Oct. 2001
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Following helpful suggestions from many
users, we have modified The
Plant Selector search form. Many experienced Web surfers are familiar
with the "Quick Search" features of popular interactive websites.
The "Name" section of the search form serves such a role and
is now labeled as such. You can also now search for plants with invasive
tendency under the "Special Qualities" section of the form.
We hope this feature will enable users to make more informed plant choices.
Lastly, we now include numerical height designations under the newly
renamed "Plant Form & Size" option under "Basic Traits".
Let us know your suggestions.
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August 2001
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Responding to the concerns of many of
our users, we have chosen to indicate the invasive potential of many
of the plants contained within the UConn Plant Database. The issue of
invasive plants is one of the more pressing dilemmas in contemporary
horticulture. When using the Plant Selector, matching plants with an
invasive tendency will be labeled as such on the results page. In addition,
a notation is included under the "Habitat" section of the
Plant Pages profiles of these species. If you have any feedback about
our response to this issue, please contact us by e-mail.
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June - August 2001
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We have undertaken a complete revision
of the cultivar listings located at the end of each species profile
page in the Plant Pages database. This project should be completed by
early August, allowing our users to better understand the range of forms,
varieties and cultivars available on the market.
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July 2001
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Using The
Plant Selector, you can now search for plants that express tolerance
of urban/city conditions and species that are naturally resistant to
the allelopathic secretions of black walnut. Look under "Special
Qualities" on the search form.
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June 2001
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In order to collect feedback that will
expedite the continued improvement of the website's newest component,
The Plant Selector,
we have set up a simple online
questionnaire that takes a few minutes to complete. The opinions
of our users are crucial, so we hope you can take a few moments to complete
this anonymous survey.
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May 2001
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Both an online
searchable glossary and an
interactive dichotomous key are now fully functional. The glossary
allows users to review definitions of horticultural terms related to
woody plants, while the tree key is a tool that aids in the field identification
of trees native to New England.
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